Miraculous: Senior Year

Two Years Ago

It was a beautiful afternoon, the golden sun reflecting off of the flowers surrounding the small archway and bench. There, Adrian Agreste sat, examining the rings he wore on his finger. Marinette approached him, marveling at the change that had occurred. At one point, the bench had held a statue of Emily, but Adrien seemed to have stopped grieving.

"You're not wearing it?" Marinette asked, sitting down on the bench next to him.

"When Ladybug gave it to me, she told me how my father had managed to defeat Monarch at the cost of his life." He sighed sadly. "I don't know if I'll ever manage to be like him."

Marinette hesitated, remembering how Gabriel Agreste had renounced his miraculous and gave up his wish to bring Emily back to life. It was a noble deed, but it did not make him a good person, especially after all the harm he did against Paris. She had promised him, however, that she would never tell Adrian that his father was Monarch. Gently, she laid her hand on his, covering the ring.

"You don't need to be like him." She placed the ring on his finger and he gasped. "Just be yourself." Marinette paused, looking deep into his eyes. "Adrian," she said, "you're the only one who can decide what you make of your life."

He blushed, then smiled. "You always find the right words, Marinette. When I'm with you, I feel . . . so free."

"I love you," they both said simultaneously, and they laughed, blushing together. He clasped her hands in his, and then they kissed, white butterflies flying around the pink roses nearby.